an unexpected valentine

it was late when i went to my postal box. but inside, i found an unexpected valentine. funny thing about the unexpected -- you have to open it to find out who sent it .... so i did.

how thoughtful, how kind, how unexpected. a simple act of kindness. i understand simple not to be simple at all; it takes thought and time; but that unexpected kindness was truly a gift; like grace. this made me feel blessed; and of course i am .... and like everyone else, there are times when i wonder why.

but wondering why doesn't nag at me. i give it a moments thought (ok, sometimes more than a moment's thought, but i am human, aren't i?!) and what i do then is give thanks. the unexpected gives me pause .... and i am thankful -- for the unexpected, of course, and for the moment of pause that allows me to reflect and be grateful.

and as if the heavens were giving me added blessings, i was reminded of an e. e. cummings poem called 'i carry your heart with me'. wonderful for this time of year; a wonderful reminder for every day of the year. i even found, as i looked this poem up, that it has several versions on youtube.com. i wonder if cummings ever imagined he would be on youtube....of course the answer is no, but maybe he envisioned that his poetry would be read and would touch the heart...at least i hope he did! i still think i need a tutor for poetry, however.

so, take some time to reflect upon this little ditty. reflection gives us a great opportunity to be renewed and strengthened, and to live and act in new ways. take some time with the unexpected. i promise; you'll be glad you did....

i carry your heart with me

(i carry it in my heart)

i am never without it

(anywhere i go you go, my dear;

and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear no fate

(for you are my fate, my sweet)

i want no world

(for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart

(i carry it in my heart)